Mountable touch thermostat using transparent screen technology
A thermostat includes a transparent touch screen display, wherein the matter behind the display is visible in the non-active display portions and a control bar connected to one side of the transparent touch screen display. The control bar includes a housing, processing circuitry operably connected to the transparent touch screen display and configured to monitor and control building equipment, and a temperature sensor operably connected to the processing circuitry.
1. A thermostat comprising:
a transparent touch screen display, wherein matter behind the display is visible in non-active display portions to allow a user to view a wall the thermostat is mounted on through the transparent touch screen display; and
a control bar connected to one side of the transparent touch screen display, wherein the control bar comprises:
a housing;
processing circuitry operably connected to the transparent touch screen display and configured to monitor and control building equipment; and
a temperature sensor operably connected to the processing circuitry.
2. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the housing of the control bar is perpendicular to the transparent touch screen display.
3. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the transparent touch screen display is oriented vertically in a portrait orientation.
4. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the transparent touch screen display extends vertically from the control bar.
5. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the transparent touch screen display is oriented horizontally in a landscape orientation.
6. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the transparent touch screen display extends horizontally from the control bar.
7. The thermostat of claim 1 , further comprising a second control bar connected to another side of the transparent touch screen display.
8. The thermostat of claim 7 , wherein the second control bar is opposite the control bar.
9. The thermostat of claim 1 , further comprising at least one sensor operably connected to the processing circuitry, the at least one sensor from the group consisting of a humidity sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a smoke sensor, a proximity sensor, an ambient light sensor, and a biometric sensor.
10. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry comprises a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is configured to cause the transparent touch screen display to present a user interface for monitoring and controlling building equipment.
11. The thermostat of claim 10 , wherein the building equipment comprises at least one system from the group consisting of an HVAC system, a lighting system, a blinds system, a projector system, and a lock system.
12. The thermostat of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the transparent touch screen display to present an alarm message on the user interface.
13. The thermostat of claim 12 , wherein the alarm message is from the group of consisting of a fire alarm, a tornado alarm, and a suspect alarm.
14. The thermostat of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to cause the transparent touch screen display to present an exit sign on the user interface.
15. The thermostat of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to provide customized controls based on an identity of the user.
16. The thermostat of claim 1 , wherein the processing circuitry comprises a circuit board that is perpendicular to the transparent touch screen display.
17. The thermostat of claim 16 , wherein the circuit board is configured to be located inside of the wall that the thermostat is mounted on.
18. A user control device comprising:
a transparent display, wherein matter behind the display is visible in non-active display portions to allow a user to view a wall the user control device is mounted on through the transparent display;
a housing connected to one side of the transparent display; and
processing circuitry operably connected to the transparent display and configured to monitor and control building equipment.
19. The user control device of claim 18 , further comprising at least one sensor from the group consisting of a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a smoke sensor, an ambient light sensor, a proximity sensor, and a biometric sensor.
20. The user control device of claim 18 , wherein the housing is perpendicular to the transparent display.
21. The user control device of claim 18 , wherein the transparent display is oriented vertically in a portrait orientation.
22. The user control device of claim 18 , wherein the transparent display extends vertically from the housing.
23. The user control device of claim 18 , wherein the transparent display is oriented horizontally in a landscape orientation.
24. The user control device of claim 18 , wherein the transparent display extends horizontally from the housing.
25. The user control device of claim 18 , further comprising a second housing connected to another side of the transparent display.
26. The user control device of claim 18 , wherein the processing circuitry comprises a circuit board that is perpendicular to the transparent display.